10. Bea
Five texts. That’s how many texts I sent to my sister that went unanswered. I was growing more angry with every single one I sent. She couldn’t even give me one damn response.
Phoenix was happily set up in the main room in the back of our shop. Dani’s guys had brought over a TV, beanbag, and a game system.
I finished my emails before gently introducing her to the others, letting her meet my little family one by one so it wasn’t overwhelming.
She greeted them with just as much closed-off politeness as she’d given me.
I hated that she had to hide so much of herself. I wished there was something I could do to erase whatever her mother had put her through.
With her preoccupied, I slipped into my office to try one more fucking time to reach my sister. This time, instead of texting, I called. This time when she didn’t answer, I called three times back to back. Every time it rang endlessly, I grew more and more angry.
I would never get over the fact that she abandoned her child with me. She had no idea who I was anymore. Not only was it reckless, it wasn’t fair to Phoenix.
On the third time it sent me to voicemail, I finally started speaking.
“Look, Dee. I’m not here to fight with you, but I promise you that if you do not send back these papers that I’m emailing you here in a second, fully signed, giving me guardianship so I can get this girl enrolled in school and put on insurance so she can see a fucking doctor, I am going to report you to the police for neglect and abandonment.
I have it on video that you drove away and we have no evidence of a prior agreement. This would look awful for you.”
My breathing was rapid, my face hot as fury coursed through me. Phoenix deserved so much better than this. I didn’t even know if she had allergies or medicine that she needed to take. Hell, I didn’t even know if she knew at this point.
“Either way, you need to call me back.” With that, I ended the call before I could say more that I would regret.
“Hey, Bea?” Dani called out.
“In here!” I yelled back. She pushed open the door, eyes studying me before she spoke.
“Holt and my pack are setting up dinner at my place. I snagged us a tour of your new lake house. In fact, I was confident enough that you’re going to love it that I begged them to not take any offers until you see it.”
“Dani,” I breathed out, unsure what to say. She waved her hand between us before going on.
“It has more bedrooms than you need, but I’m pretty sure you’ll be fine with the extra space, and it’s a really good price.
The older couple that’s renting it out has a shop in town.
They were one of the first people I met when I moved here to Willow Lake, and they are so sweet.
I may have told them a little bit of your story, mainly just saying that your niece had to come live with you suddenly and you needed a bigger place as soon as possible.
So, they knocked a couple hundred off the rent for you. ”
“What? Oh, wow,” I said, shaking my head. “That’s incredible. I don’t want to take advantage of anyone, though.”
Dani rolled her eyes. “Oh, trust me, you’re not. They have several properties, and they make more than enough profit,” she reassured me.
How could I argue with that?
“Perfect,” I said, relaxing a little more. It was insane how much they were helping me handle so quickly. I wouldn’t have gotten half of this done if I tried on my own.
Yet another reason to let people in once in a while. My friends were helping me work past some of my issues.
Dani gestured to the phone still clenched in my hand. “Any luck?”
Taryn poked her head in beside Dani, checking in as well.
I sighed. “Unfortunately, no. I left her another voicemail, threatening her this time. I told her I’d report her for child abandonment if she didn’t get back to me. She can’t leave me with no way to take care of Phoenix. Otherwise, I will have no choice but to report her.”
My stomach twisted at the thought, but my niece came first. If that meant turning in my sister to make sure Phoenix got everything she needed, I would happily do it.
“How sure are we that she’s not coming back?”
“According to Phoenix, pretty damn sure. She hasn’t said much about it, but I’m getting the feeling that this is not the first drop-off she’s done.”
“She probably burned way too many bridges and had to come to you,” Taryn said. She winced at her blunt words. “Sorry, I’m not trying to hurt your feelings.”
“I promise you won’t hurt my feelings. I have no delusions about the kind of person my sister is.
She’s just genuinely not a nice person. I would never say these things in front of Phoenix, but I’m fairly sure she knows who her mother is.
At the end of the day, she loves her because she’s her mom, just like I love her because she’s my sister.
But that doesn’t mean I’m going to protect her anymore.
The moment she left Phoenix and drove away was the moment Phoenix became my priority. ”
“You’re going to give that girl an amazing chance and a better life,” Taryn said gently. “And we’re all going to help you.”
“You already have,” I promised. “Are you guys coming to tour the new lake house?”
“Of course,” Taryn promised. “I think the guys have dinner handled between all of them.”
Dani nodded in confirmation. “Oh, also, Cy made sure that his stylist got Phoenix hooked up. I tried to covertly take a picture of her. I blurred out her face, of course, but just so they had an idea of what her style is.”
Honestly, that was genius. There was no quicker way to lose a teenager than proving you didn’t understand them. I wanted Phoenix comfortable and confident as she navigated the unfamiliar.
Gathering up my things and shutting down my computer for the night, I went to collect Phoenix.
“Hey, are you good to go? We have a tour set up for a new place. Are you excited to see it?” I asked.
“You don’t have to do all this for me,” she said quietly. “I’m used to sleeping on couches, Aunt Bea.”
“Sure, I do. We can’t be squeezed into a one bedroom,” I argued.
“I’d much prefer honesty. Just be upfront with me the best you can, okay?” The depths of her warm, brown eyes were full of pain and I wished I could take it all away.
“Okay,” she whispered.
“Truth?” I asked, looking her right in the eyes.
She nodded, determined to face reality. “I called your mom to try to get some answers. She has yet to answer me. So, I gave her twenty-four hours to respond, or at least give me temporary guardianship so I can get you enrolled in school and to a doctor if you need it.”
“I’ll be behind.” Phoenix’s voice came out small.
“Has she not been keeping you enrolled?” I tried my best to keep the horror off of my face.
“She had me enrolled in some online classes, but it wasn’t a good program,” she admitted. “It was through my last district and severely underfunded. There was no supervision or new information.”
“Well, if we need to, we’ll catch you up. The school is small. There’s no denying that Willow Lake isn’t exactly a big city, but that also means your teachers might be more willing to help you if you’re willing to put in the work.”
“I’d like that,” Phoenix admitted. “I just don’t want you having to go all out for me like this.”
“Another truth,” I said, voice breaking.
“It nearly killed me not being in your life. I just wanted to protect myself, and I know that’s selfish, and you deserved better from me.
But I was young and not ready to be a mom, and I had spent years of our parents coddling her and me being the villain.
Yet, I was always the one cleaning up her messes. ”
Phoenix sighed, running a hand through her cropped hair. “I know that feeling.”
“I’m sorry she made you grow up faster than she should have.”
“I wish I could say I was surprised that you’re nothing like she described. Her story was that you abandoned the family,”
“Of course it was,” I said with a sigh. “But it couldn’t be further from the truth. I didn’t want to abandon you and I didn’t do it willingly, either.”
“I understand,” Phoenix said. It was easy to see she meant it and that killed me, too.
Glancing at my watch, I let out a sigh. “Okay, let’s go see our new home. Your mom will get back to me.”
“I’m not so sure she will,” Phoenix said, still skeptical. “But either way, thanks for fighting for me.”
“Always, Phoenix,” I said with enough conviction that she froze. It took her a second before she managed to brush it off.
We walked back to the apartment to get the car and drive across town. I pointed out what few businesses Willow Lake had to offer. At least it was more now than it used to be.
Phoenix seemed interested in the music store, and I made yet another mental note to get her into lessons of some kind.
I was afraid if I asked too much too soon, she’d shut down on me. We were making a little progress and I was happy with that.
Once we got to the winding lakeside roads, we both sat up a bit straighter. She helped me find the right number and we pulled up out front.
The cabin Dani secured for us was beautiful. The front yard was cut nicely, and dotted with enough trees to give it shade.
The side yard was the only part that really got enough sun, aside from the lake itself. If we did a garden, it would have to go there.
“This is nice,” Phoenix said as we climbed out to join the others waiting out front.
Dani waved me over to an older couple standing there.
“Hello, dear. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” the woman said to Phoenix, smiling, before my niece gave me a look like who the hell is this.
“This is Nancy and Craig. They’re the ones who own the home,” Dani explained for me.
“Why don’t you take a tour?” Craig said kindly. “Let us know what you think. We’ll be waiting out front.”
“Thank you,” I said before heading up the porch stairs. I gave Phoenix an encouraging smile before I pushed open the door. She followed me inside, Dani and Taryn on her heels.
This place was nice. The rooms were big and it was partially furnished, just the basics, but there was still enough room for what I already owned.
Thanks to the success of our store, I had enough savings to be able to get Phoenix everything she needed for her new room.
The master was built for a pack. It was spacious and had a beautiful omega nest attached. The bathroom had a door leading to each room. There was also a walk-in closet that dreams were made of, with plenty of organization.
One of the smaller bedrooms had a view of the lake, the other looked toward the opposite side of the house.
There would be a lot of decorating to do, but this place was exactly what we needed.
Maybe once things settled and I got a chance to apologize to the pack, they’d join us here. I knew they were good men, and they’d understand.
A girl could only handle so much at once, and thanks to my sister, my responsibilities had shifted.
“Can I have the room that overlooks the lake?” Phoenix asked, then tried to shake her head. “No, I’m sorry. I’ll take whatever you want me to take.”
“I want you to take the room you actually want,” I promised. “If you want the one by the lake, it’s yours.”
“Really?” That ray of hope was everything.
“Of course,” I promised. “I know that we don’t know each other that well, but I’m never going to lie to you. I’m not going to force you to do things you don’t want to do when I can help it, and I’m going to take your opinions into account. I promise.”
She still seemed skeptical, but I had a feeling that with time, she’d believe me. All I had to do was keep showing up for her.